help mazda protege sounds diesel like

[dsity]

I inherited a Mazda Protege 2003 dx when my uncle passed away. no one knows if the guy took care of it or not (for the most part it looks to be in decent shape).

The problem is my mother was the one who picked it up. And most women don't notice a thing until it breaks.

Well as soon as I got it, I didn't pay much attention to how the engine sounded at the beginning. Right away I changed the oil to full synthetic.

Now I'm not sure how much an oil change would have affected this, but the car sounds like a diesel.

Nothing really knocks, just a loud continous noise from the belt area.

Here's a video. at :28 is where the sound I"m talking about is clear.

Things i've noticed:

doesn't make the noise when i give it gas
car vibrates slight rough idle nothing very seriuos
loud...for a 4 cylinder

oil level is slightly over the F

If someone owns a protege...would like if you could compare the video with your own car.

http://video.google.com/videop...9346116572633516&hl=en

any ideas before going to a mech?

 

[herm0016]

i would check the bearings on your accessories, alike alternator, compressor, belt tensioner. I like to use a long screw driver and put it near the bearing and put my forhead on the handle, you can really feel any vibs that way (sounds stupid, but works). very hard to tell from a short vid though.

 

[cheesehead]

The old Proteges are non-interference engines, which mean that something going wrong with your timing belt won't cause the engine to self-destruct.

I'm not a mechanic (not even close), but the things I might check are:

-Ignition (you can get an in-line tester from Harbor Feight)
-Timing belt (you'll need a scope)
-Exhaust / air intake sensors (also scope, though a good multimeter might work.)

 

[AMCRambler]

My first thought would be a bearing on one of the pulley driven accessories or tensioners. Try the screwdriver trick Herm mentioned. If it's a tensioner or the alternator you could try replacing it if you're handy. You could also try turning on your AC to see if it gets louder when the compressor is engaged. That would tell you if that is the source.
If that doesn't do it then I would start thinking something with your timing belt/pulleys or maybe the water pump. Or perhaps a hole in the exhaust somewhere. I took the EGR valve off my old Honda once and ran it without it on there. Sounded like that except way louder.

 

[sdifox]

might be the pump. I know mine (02 Protegé5) started making diesel like sound and then it got progressively worse. I am on pump number 4...

 

[dsity]

Originally posted by: herm0016
i would check the bearings on your accessories, alike alternator, compressor, belt tensioner. I like to use a long screw driver and put it near the bearing and put my forhead on the handle, you can really feel any vibs that way (sounds stupid, but works). very hard to tell from a short vid though.

I will try this as soon as I have time. Finals are coming up. Thanks

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The old Proteges are non-interference engines, which mean that something going wrong with your timing belt won't cause the engine to self-destruct.

I'm not a mechanic (not even close), but the things I might check are:

-Ignition (you can get an in-line tester from Harbor Feight)
-Timing belt (you'll need a scope)
-Exhaust / air intake sensors (also scope, though a good multimeter might work.)

That is good to know. Friend had his belt on one of his hondas break...ouch.

 

[dsity]

Originally posted by: sdifox
might be the pump. I know mine (02 Protegé5) started making diesel like sound and then it got progressively worse. I am on pump number 4...

Wouldn't you think a bad pump (or one going south) would cause car temps to rise slightly?

I have been keeping an eye out on the temp guage in the car and haven't noticed anything odd.



Thanks for the help guys, at the time of the video I really didn't let the car warm up completely. It sounds worse I would say.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: dsity

Originally posted by: sdifox
might be the pump. I know mine (02 Protegé5) started making diesel like sound and then it got progressively worse. I am on pump number 4...

Wouldn't you think a bad pump (or one going south) would cause car temps to rise slightly?

I have been keeping an eye out on the temp guage in the car and haven't noticed anything odd.



Thanks for the help guys, at the time of the video I really didn't let the car warm up completely. It sounds worse I would say.

that is the thing, my temp is not elevated, the thing just got louder and louder over time. I guess it was still working but worn. By the time I took it in, you can see the pulley wobbling. Definitely look at the pulleys and see if anothing is wobbly.

 

[dsity]

No noise detected from alternator, or powersteering pump.

There is no change with A/C on or off.

If it was a water pump how much would (ballpark estimate) a replacement/labor cost?

Assuming it was a water pump, might as well change out the tension pulley and belts, however the damned belt looks brand new.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: dsity
No noise detected from alternator, or powersteering pump.

There is no change with A/C on or off.

If it was a water pump how much would (ballpark estimate) a replacement/labor cost?

Assuming it was a water pump, might as well change out the tension pulley and belts, however the damned belt looks brand new.

Depends on where you are and who you go to.